Referee Martin Atkinson gave it only 15 seconds as the fans embarrassed the game and insulted their final opponents

It’s Chelsea that go through to face Liverpool in the final on May 5 and it’s just a pity the supporters who abused the minute’s silence for Hillsborough will be with them.

Referee Martin Atkinson gave it only 15 seconds as the fans embarrassed the game and insulted their final opponents.

Atkinson’s decision to cut short the respect was his only good decision.

He turned the game by awarding Chelsea their crucial second goal just after half-time when the ball clearly didn’t cross the line.

TV replays were inconclusive and how Atkinson (right) and his assistant believed Juan Mata’s shot crossed the line is a mystery.

Even Chelsea captain John Terry admitted it wasn’t a goal. It broke Spurs’ resistance and in the end they were humiliated.

It’s the perfect result for Chelsea ahead of their next semi, Wednesday’s Champions League confrontation at Stamford Bridge with Barcelona.

Interim manager Roberto Di Matteo had complained about the timing of this 6pm kick-off so close to Barcelona and yet by the end there was not a hint of fatigue.

Chelsea are ready for Lionel Messi and the European Champions.

Di Matteo must decide between Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres.

Yesterday he chose Drogba, with a view to playing Torres against Barcelona, but how can he leave out Drogba after this?

He was outstanding and scored one of the great FA Cup semi-final goals to put Chelsea ahead. All game he was far too big, quick and powerful for the struggling William Gallas and Ledley King.

Drogba latched on to Frank Lampard’s pass, easily held off Gallas and smashed a left-footed shot deep into Tottenham hearts. You can add this to the classic FA Cup goals.

By the end Spurs were shattered, frustrated and on the floor. It is a wretched result for manager Harry Redknapp at the start of a week that could see the FA approach Tottenham to make him England coach.

Spurs have lost it completely in recent weeks and Redknapp must take a lot of the responsibility.

Yesterday, for some reason, he left out his best goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, and put in Carlo Cudicini. ‘Mr Motivator’ looks jaded and without answers.

Tottenham’s bitterness boiled over close to the end when Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel kicked out at Scott Parker. The Spurs and England captain was incensed and had to restrained.

It was a red-card offence but Atkinson, who must have seen it because he booked both players, didn’t view it as such.

Atkinson was also at fault when Gareth Bale had put Spurs back into the game.

Emmanuel Adebayor was brought down by Peter Cech, in a blatant red card offence, only for the referee to completely ignore it.

It’s been a shocking seven days for Atkinson. Last Sunday he somehow missed Mario Balotelli’s assault on Arsenal’s Alex Song. It simply isn’t good enough. What was he doing in charge of this semi?

It is embarrassing for the FA and the game. How can one man get so many decisions wrong in a match of this importance?

At 2-1 Spurs had hope, although their defending wasn’t good enough and goals from Ramires, Lampard and Florent Malouda put Chelsea easily into the final.

Spurs will point to two Rafael van der Vaart efforts that went close and yet Chelsea deserve their return to Wembley.

Yes, they were helped by the awful Atkinson but, all round, they were the better side.

Di Matteo can’t do any wrong and there is no question they are in the mood for Barca. Don’t write them off.

The other memory of this classic will be the Chelsea fans that shamed this old competition with their foul abuse ahead of kick-off.

Morons, all of them, and surely they will not repeat their shameful behaviour in front of Liverpool in the final. But after this, we can’t be surprised by anything any more.